Muffler



B. HEMERKA Jan. 27, 1931.

MUFFLER 2 Sheets-She 1 Filed Aug. 2'7, 1929 In venior fiaz z dznzhflenzer/ka/ M m I Attorney B. HEMERKA Jan. 27, 1931'.

MUFFLER Fil 7, 1929 ZSMQts-Shut 2 Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITEDISTATESPATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN HEMEBKA, or smmoxm, PENNSYLVANIA" normApplication flledAug'ult 27, 1929. Serial No. 888,718.

This invention relates to mufllers for internal combustion engines, andmore particularly to devices of this character which are particularlyadapted for use in connection with engines having a plurality ofradially disposed cylinders although it is to be understood that thedevice may be associated for use with any other type of engine for whichsame may be found adapted, and has for one of its objects to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, a mufller having mechanical meansembodied therein for muflling the exhaust of a radial type internalcombustion engine wherein said mechanism means is actuated by the engineupon which the mufiler is installed.

Other objects of the invention, are to provide a inufller of theaforementioned character which may be expeditiously installed on anengine, which is strong, durable, simple in construction, efficient inits use, and which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from astudy of the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mufiler showing the same installedon a radial type engine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a mufiler constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the rotor showing the same removed fromthe casing.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the rotor.

' Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the curved bladesof the rotor.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the rotor andthe casing therefor, said View also showing a portion of an exhaust pipecommunicating with said casmg.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6 showingthe configuration of the exhaust pipe at its point of connection withthe rotor casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1designates generally an internal combustion engine of the radial cyl-'inder type, 2 indicates the cylinders thereof,

and 3 designates the exhaust pipe or conduit leading from saidcylinders. The engine 1 is provided with a crank case 4, one end ofwhich is closed by a removable cap5. An

studs having threaded shanks extending from both sides of the headand'this second threaded shank is designated by the reference char-'acter 10. A circular bracket 11 is mountedon the crank case 4concentrically with the crank shaft 7 by means. of a plurality ofsubstantially L shaped apertured brackets 13 which are mounted on the:shanks 10 of the securing element 8 and are held thereon by a nut '14.

The circular base or plate 11 is provided with a centrally disposedopening 15 and a bearing box 16 through which the outer end portion ofthe crank shaft 7 extends. The free end of the crank shaft isprovidedwith a reduced threaded portion 17 upon which a rotor is mounted andsecured by means of the nutsv '18. The rotor is designated generally bythe reference character 19 and comprises a web portion 20 having a hub21 and an annular rim 22. The rotor further comprises an annulus 23 ofgreater diameter than the,

rim 22 andsaid annulus surrounds said rim in spaced relation thereto.

Interposed between the rim 22 and annulus 23 are a plurality ofrearwardly curved circumferentially spaced bafile plates or blades 24which are provided, at their upper and lower edges with right-angulardisposed apertured flanges for the passage of securing elements forsecuring said baflies in position in the rotor. The rotor 19 is closedin a casing 26 which is detachably secured to the marginal portion ofthe base 11 through the medium of an outwardl turned flange 27 and 100the securing elements 28. The end wall of the casing 26 is provided witha substantially semi-circular portion which constitutes an annularchamber 29 for the reception of the exhaust gases which pass between thebattle plates or blades 24.

The remaining portion of the end wall of the casing is directed inwardlytoward the axis of the rotor, as indicated by the refer-' ence character30. V

The. ex iaust pipes 8 are circular in cross section to a point adjacenttheir connection with the base plate 11, where same assume a polygonalconfiguration in cross section, as clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and?of the draw V ings and indicated by the reference character 31. Atake-oft conduit 32 communicates with the annular chamber 29 at anydesired point therein for the purpose of per-' mitting the escape of theexhaust gases therefrom. v

A vertical-baffle 33 is positionedin the I chamber 29 in front of theintake end of the conduit 32 for the purpose of preventing exhaust gasesfrom the adjacent exhaust pipes from passing directly through themufiier and casing and out through the pipe 82, as will be understood.

In use, the mufiler functions in the following manner: With the enginein operation, the crank shaft 7 imparts very rapid rotary motion to therotor 19. Exhaust gases, leaving the cylinder 2 through the exhaust pipe3 are drawn between the rapidly rotating baflies or plates 24 frombetween which they merge into the annular chamber 29 and escape throughthe conduit 82. i

The rapidly rotating blades cause the sharp and distinct explosionreport of each cylinder to be blended into a continuous hum of much lessvolume than would be the case in mufflers of ordinary construction whereno mechanical or moving JELItS are used. lhe exhaust pipes 3 areprovided with the rectang'ularends '31 for the purpose of dischargingthe exhaust gases over the entire length of the baffle plates whichareadjacent/the exhaust pipe openings into the casing. It is thought thatthe many advantages of a muflier constructed in accordance with thisinvention will be readily understood, and although the preferredembodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that changes in the details of construction may be had whichwill fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat is claimed is: i

Aniapparatus of the character described comprising in combination, anengine having a plurality of radially disposed cylinders and 'a crankcase, a crank shaft extending from said crank case, a casing mounted onthe crankcase in a manner to rotatably enclose the free end of the crankshaft, exhaust gas conduits communicating with the interior of thecasing at its marginal portion and with p the cylinders of the engine, arotor mounted on the free end of the crank shaft and enclosed in thecasing, circumferentially spaced baffle plates mounted in the peripheralportion of said rotor and adapted to receive the exhaust gasestherebetween,an annular chamber formed in the marginal portion of thecasing and adapted to receive exhaust gases from the rotor, an escapeconduit connected to said chamber, and a stationary baflie mounted insaid chamber in front of the escape conduit. a y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN -mi naxa,

